American Sign Language (ASL)

We use TRUE+WAY ASL as our digital course platform. TRUE+WAY ASL is a 100% Deaf owned and managed company, and their curriculum focuses on useful everyday communication. The platform is centered around rich and authentic video materials created by native ASL signers.

We also use supplemental cultural materials, such as Deaf Culture: Exploring Deaf Communities in the United States (2020), by Irene W. Leigh, et al.

Linguistics/Language Sciences offers a series of whole-language, communicative courses in ASL (Linguistics 351, 352, 353, 354). These courses are designed for people who want to achieve a high level of communicative proficiency in ASL: creatively producing and comprehending ASL across a wide variety of contexts and social settings, a thorough overview of ASL grammar and structure, an understanding of appropriate pragmatic usage, and knowledge and appreciation of Deaf culture and history. Classes are small with ample opportunity for interaction and are taught entirely in ASL. These are full 4-credit language courses, and can be used to satisfy the College of Letters and Science language requirement.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders also offers courses that introduce ASL and MCE (CSD 424 Introduction to Sign Language and CSD 434 Sign Language in Health and Education) tailored to medical and other service providers working with deaf clients. The CSD courses include Manually Coded English/MCE (which is not ASL, but a system for directly translating English word for word into gestures). These classes have a larger lecture format with instruction in Deaf cultural issues centered around the students’ future profession, and as such are less focused on interaction and developing communicative skills in ASL. The CSD classes would be most appropriate for students who do not want or need a high level of proficiency in ASL broadly speaking, but who are planning to work in areas such as health care, education, counseling, or law, and may find rudimentary ASL communication and a deeper understanding of the deaf community useful in this professional context. CSD 424 and 434 do not count towards the L&S language requirement.

Yes, Linguistics 351 covers significantly more and different material than CSD 424 and 434, and students who have already taken a CSD class are welcome to enroll.

No, Linguistics 351 is a prerequisite for Linguistics 352. Ling 351 is a 4-credit class that covers more and different material than CSD 424 and 434, and the classes are not equivalent. Students will need to take Ling 351 before taking the second semester class, unless they have attained additional ASL proficiency through experiences outside of the CSD class. Speak to your instructor if you have questions about your personal situation.

Language Sciences offers four semesters of ASL (Linguistics 351, 352, 353, and 354). Students may be able to continue with even higher levels online at UW-Milwaukee and transfer credits over (see the question about transfer credits below). We have partnered with UW-Milwaukee to make sure our curriculum lines up so that students will be able to move seamlessly between our programs. Contact UW-Milwaukee ASL program director Sunny Brysch directly to discuss enrollment options, and speak with your academic advisor about how transfer credits will work in your situation. See here for important information about concurrent enrollment credit limits.

Badgers Sign UW is a Registered Student Organization for students interested in ASL from across campus! The group generally meets biweekly, with a goal of raising awareness and increasing understanding of Deaf culture and community issues, practicing ASL together, and having fun with ASL games. Follow them on Instagram for more info.

We do not offer a certificate, but taking ASL courses will help you develop important and useful skills that may be relevant to your life and work.

Non-degree students (including high school student juniors and seniors) are able to enroll in UW for-credit classes as “special students.” There is more info on enrolling as a special student at the Adult Career and Special Student Services page – contact that office directly for information and assistance.

Keep in mind that enrollment for special students is available only if there is space left in the class after degree students enroll. Due to the interactive nature of ASL classes, enrollment is limited, and we cannot guarantee that spots will be available for non-degree students. Summer may be your best chance to find open seats.

Because ASL is a highly participatory class, auditing or attending unofficially is not possible, including senior auditors.

Yes, send a transcript to the Admissions office for evaluation.

In order to count towards the L&S Language Requirement, the course must transfer as direct equivalent to LINGUIS 351-354, or with the following equivalents:

RP & SE X01 – First Semester ASL
RP & SE X02 – Second Semester ASL
RP & SE X03 – Third Semester ASL
RP & SE X04 – Fourth Semester ASL

Check Transferology or work with Credit Evaluation Services to see how ASL classes taken at another institution will transfer to UW–Madison.

In most cases it will be best for students to start with Linguistics 351: ASL 1, to make sure that the student does not have any gaps in their learning, and to ensure familiarity with our TRUE+WAY curriculum. If a student has significant prior experience with ASL, they should take a placement test to determine which level is best for them.

Contact instructor Justin Vollmar (jdvollmar@wisc.edu) to schedule placement testing.

Madison College offers non-credit ASL classes year-round, with multiple levels. These Madison College courses would be a great option for non-UW students and community members who want to learn about ASL and Deaf culture in a non-credit environment.

Our Fall and Spring ASL classes are in person only. Our Summer courses are offered in an online format. Online classes in ASL are also offered year-round at UW-Milwaukee. Contact UW-Milwaukee ASL program director Sunny Brysch directly to discuss UWM enrollment options.